Luke Bryan teases surprise guests for his performance at the CMA Awards (Exclusive)

Luke Bryan is preparing to give a performance for the ages!

AND has caught up with the 42-year-old country singer in preparation for the 52nd edition of the Country Music Association Awards, which will air on Nov. 14 at 8pm. on ABC. It will certainly be a great night for Bryan, who is nominated for the year 's host title and will open the show with a performance of his new single, "What Makes You Country".

"I play the electric guitar at the front, which I've never done under this pressure," teased Bryan. "You must always do a little something to keep yourself on your guard."

"We have some very special guests coming, some of the country's rising new stars, emerging artists," he added. "I thought it would be a good start for the awards ceremony, to get some of these new faces with me, it's going to be a funny surprise."

For Bryan, it's a "privilege" to open the series, especially with a song that reflects his identity.

"As far as my country is concerned, a lot of things: rural education, living in a small town, family in a small town, in-laws in a small town, lots of small towns, peanuts, in southern Georgia, country music, cool beer, football and, hopefully, a humbled heart ".

Even though he did not want to tell who was going to join him on stage, he revealed to someone with whom he would like to collaborate – his compatriot American idol judge, Lionel Richie.

"Lionel and I have collaborated a lot on TV, we won a CMT award together … but it would be a dream come true with Lionel someday," said Bryan. . "If we can ever slow down … we can sit down and try to write a little something."

After the show, Bryan will focus on the candidacy of the grand prize of the evening, which he had already won in 2014 and in 2015.

"It's still amazing, it's still very humiliating," he said about the appointment. "Being in the place of the artist of the year, it is a bit like a tribute to all of my group, to my team, to my people on the road, to My family, my wife, my boys, they must allow me to become the host of the Year or to be nominated Artist of the Year, it's just a fun and global nomination. "

As for his nominated colleagues – Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban – Bryan have nothing but beautiful things to say about them.

"It's just an amazing group of hard-working guys who go out and give everything they do every night," he said. "It's fun to be in these categories with these guys who [are] spread the love of the country, night and night on stage. "

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley are about to stage the show – as they have been doing since 2008 – and Bryan has total confidence in the pair.

"I just think how much they represent country music, Brad and Carrie have done such a good job for years bringing comedy about it, highlighting stuff that could become stressful. so good work, "he sprang. "… I know they've been working for months on this … before the show and it's still showing, they're still doing such a good job of roasting people over there."

Here's more with Bryan: